Brassiere



M. E. CHILD Oct. 2, 1962 BRASSIERE Filed NOV. 27, 1959 United States Patent Olice 3,056,411 Patented Oct. 2, 1962 3,056,411 BRASSIERE Marian Elaine Child, Grange, Conn., assigner to Sarong, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filled Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 855,813 13 Claims. (Cl. 12S-489) The invention concerns an improved form of brassiere providing new or enhanced functional effects and advantages. The improvements involve certain features with lrespect to the shape of the elements or sections of fabric which go into the garment and their assembled relation, and also the character of the respective sections particularly as to matters of stretch or firmness.

The assembled construction or final garment is such as to provide a brassiere wherein the two breast pockets have a certain amount of independent movement relative to each other and still provide adequate control and support of the breasts and also provide considerable adjustability and capability of fitting suitably a high percentage of persons of actually different sizes but falling within what is normally regarded as one standard size.

One of the principal features of the garment is the embodiment of a pair of crossed symmetrical bands of tapered shape each having a wider end which comprises a lower inner portion of one of the breast pockets and extends therefrom without any intervening seam or restriction under the other breast pocket and in effect defines in part at least the bottom of the other pocket but has a free upper edge and also a free bottom edge unconnected to the pocket underneath which it extends. The ultimate desired effect results in part also from the character of the bands including the fact that they are composed of one-way stretch material with the major stretch extending in a certain predetermined direction.

Various other features and advantages will be apparent from a representative example of the garment and accordingly the invention comprises a brassiere embodying the features and character and relation of parts which will be exemplified in the garment hereinafter particularly described.

Reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the brassiere opened out in more or less distended form;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the front lower bands including an outer end section or continuation `of the band;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the other band and its continuing end section; and FIG. 4 is a cross-section on the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing particularly the application of elastic tapes to the rear face of the corresponding band.

The brassiere includes two breast pocket parts and 11, a pair of lower crossed bands 12 and 13 and side sections 14 and 15. The outer ends of the side sections 14 and 15 may be provided with suitable complemental fastening means 16 and 17 to be engaged at the back of the wearer. Normally the brassiere will be provided with shoulder straps such as those indicated at 18 and 19.

Each pocket 10 and 11 is made of a plurality of appropriately shaped sections suitably connected by seams to provide when sewn together the desired pocket or cup shape. As indicated in the present construction the pocket 10 for example includes an upper section 24 and a lower outer section 25. The lower inner portion of pocket 10, forming substantially one-quarter of the pocket, is comprised of the inner end of the tapered band section 12 which extends therefrom in a continuous manner free of any intervening seams under the other breast pocket 11.

The pocket 11 is constructed similar to the pocket 1) except of course being reversed as to shape and positions of the parts to pro-vide a symmetrical arrangement and accordingly it includes an upper section 28 similar to section 24 and a lower outer section 29. The inner wider end of the band 13 extends into the breast pocket 11 and forms essentially the lower inner one-quarter-portion of the breast pocket 11 and the continuing tapered end extends around underneath the breast pocket 10. The bands 12 and 13 are each inclined downwardly and outwardly resulting in their being crossed with respect to each other as appears in FIG. 1. The band 12 has a small continuation section 36 and similarly the band 13 has a continuation section 37. The section 36 is stitched to the bottom part of the section 29 of the pocket 11 and the outer end is stitched into the vertical seam 38 which may be a continuation of the seam connecting the pocket 11 and the section 15. The inner end is secured to the outer end of the band 12 by a vertical seam 39 which .may be substantially a continuation of the seam 40 connecting the inner end of band 13 and the section 29. The band 13 and its extension 37 are connected and associated with the other parts in a manner similar to that described in connection with bands 12 and its extension 36 except the arrangement is reversed to result in a symmetrical arrangement.

The two pockets 10 and 11 are connected directly together at a vertical seam 45 extending over a short distance downwardly from the middle V of the brassiere.

An important feature of the brassiere resides in having the upper and lower edges of each of the bands 12 and 13 free and unconnected with the other sections of the brassiere. It is noted in this respect that the upper edge portion of band 12 is sewn to the pocket section 24, but the edge portion 50a extends freely under the breast pocket 11 and is unconnected thereto. However, it is normally under tension and helps to define the lower edge of the pocket 11. Similarly the edge portion 51 of the band 13 is sewn to pocket section 28 but the edge portion 51a which extends under pocket 10 is unconnected thereto. The bottom edges 52 and 53 of the respective bands 12 and 13 are free and unconnected with respect to each other and have a free sliding relative movement as relative movement occurs in parts of the body.

Another feature to be noted is that the bands 12 `and 13 are each made of one way stretch material with the weave or stretch arranged substantially parallel to the inner edge assumed by the brassiere particularly on the wearer, the

major direction of stretch is inclined downwardly slightly outwardly from the inner end of the band. The band 13 is of similar material cut similarly with respect to the stretch, that is with the major elasticity substantially parallel to the inner edge 55. The inner bottom edges of the two bands 12 and 13 `are preferably provided with an elastic tape reinforcement such as indicated at 56 and 57 respectively and the upper edge which extends under the opposite pocket is also provided with an elastic tape 58 and 59 respectively. Because the tapes 58 and 59 approach more nearly the direction of major stretch of the material they provide slightly less resistance to stretch than the tapes 56 and 57. In other words the bottom edges of the bands are more resistant to stretch and provide a firmer engagement with the diaphragm section of the body at the lower part of the brassiere.

The other sections of the brassiere may be varied as to character and the matter of elasticity, but preferably as indicated in the present garment the extensions 36 and 37 of the two bands have the stretch arranged in a horizontal direction, that is parallel to the top and bottom edges. Each of these sections may be provided with a lower elastic tape as indicated at 60 and 61 which comprise extensions of the tapes 52 and 53 respectively. The sections 25 and 29 of the respective pockets 10 and 11 are preferably made of one-way elastic material with the stretch substantially as indicated by the weave lines and the arrows B in FIG. l. The side sections preferably are of elastic material with the major stretch in a generally horizontal direction as indicated by the arrows C.

As has been described, each of the bands l2 and 13 is made of elastic material and each extends at its wider end into and forms substantially the inner lower one-quarter of one pocket and then extends down under the lower portion of the other pocket and flexibly defines in eiect a lower edge part of that pocket. In other words although the band 13, for example, is continuous without any seam where the edge 50a of band 12 overlies it, nevertheless the pocket 1l is fully dened. As indicated in FIG. l the band l2, and the corresponding brassiere area, has considerable freedom of stretch at the part indicated by the arrow A, and substantial but reduced freedom of stretch at the region of and in the direction of arrow D in the narrowed portion of the band extending under the pocket 11. The other band 13 is similarly and symmetrically arranged and lof course functions similarly. More adjustability of the brassiere is provided because of the features described including the relation of the two bands without sacrifice of support or control. In general the brassiere affords appreciable stretch across the diaphragm but exerts adequate flexible restraint. The elasticity of the bands in combination with the edges 50a and 51a being free results in more inherent self-adjustability of the brassiere. The top edge areas at the tapes 5S and 59 also provide a exible support, restraint and uplift effect for the busts.

Since various changes and different embodiments of the .garment comprising the present invention may be made within the principles and features described above, it should be understood that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A brassiere having a pair of shaped bre-ast pockets each comprised of upper and lower portions defining the respective pocket with a generally central peak portion, dorsal bands extending from the sides of said breast pockets and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means for connecting the ends of said dorsal bands to one another, a band individual to each said pocket and forming the inner part of the lower portion thereof, each said band extending transversely and downwardly from its respective pocket across the front of the brassiere below the opposite pocket when on the wearer, said bands being in free sliding overlapping relation at the front of the wearer, each said band being formed of a single piece of elastic material having major and minor eleasticity with the major elasticity of each band extending in a substantially vertical direction, each said band being secured at one end to its respective pocket and at the other end to a point below the opposite pocket.

2. The combination set forth in claim l wherein the upper portions of said pockets are pivoted to one another at a point vertically above said bands.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the other end of each overlapping band is anchored substantially centrally below the peak portion of the other pocket.

4. The combination set forth in claim l wherein each said band tapers from its respective pocket to the other pocket, the wide end of each band being connected to and forming said lower inner part of the lower portion of its respective pocket.

5. The combination set forth in claim l including inter- Imediate bands fastened to the lower edges of the pockets and connecting the dorsal bands to the overlapping bands,

said intermediate bands being made of elastic material having a major and minor elasticity with the major elasticity of each intermediate band extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer part of the lower portion of each said pocket is formed of elastic material having major and minor elasticity with the major elasticity of each said outer portion extending in a substantially vertical direction.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the overlapping bands are defined by top and bottom edges of heavier material, the top edge being more elastic than the bottom edge in a direction transverse and extending downwardly along the length of the band.

8. A brassiere having a pair of shaped breast pockets each comprised of upper and lower portions defining the respective pocket with a generally central peak portion, dorsal bands extending from the sides of said breast pockets and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means for connecting the ends of said dorsal bands to one another', a band individual to each said pocket and forming the inner part of the lower portion thereof, each said band extending transversely and downwardly from its respective pocket across the front of the brassiere below the opposite pocket when on the wearer, said bands being in free overlapping relation, each said band being formed of a single piece of elastic material having a major and minor elasticity with the major elasticity of each band extending in a substantially vertical direction, each said overlapping band being secured at one end to its respective pocket along a substantially vertical seam extending downwardly from the peak portion of the pocket of which it forms a part and at the other end to a point below the other pocket.

9. 'Ille combination set forth in claim S wherein the other end of each overlapping band is anchored substantially centrally of the other pocket along a line forming `an extension of the vertical seam.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including intermediate bands fastened to the lower edges of the pockets and connecting the other ends of the overlapping bands to the dorsal bands, said intermediate bands being made of elastic material with the major elasticity of each intermediate band in a substantially horizontal direction.

1l. A brassiere having a pair of shaped breast pockets each comprised of upper and lower portions dening the respective pocket with a generally central peak portion, said pockets being pivoted to one another, dorsal bands extending from the sides of said breast pockets and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means for connecting the ends of said dorsal bands to one another7 a band individual to each said pocket and forming the inner one quarter of the lower portion thereof, each said band extending transversely and downwardly from its respective pocket across the front of the brassiere below the opposite pocket when on the wearer, said bands being in free overlapping relation, each said band being formed of a single piece of elastic material with the major elasticity of each band extending in a substantially vertical direction, each said overlapping band being secured at one end to its respective pocket along a substantially vertical seam extending downwardly from the peak portion of the pocket of which it forms a part and at the other end to a point below the other pocket, and intermediate bands fastened to the lower edges of the pockets and connecting the other ends of the overlapping bands to the dorsal bands, said intermediate bands being made of elastic material with the major elasticity of each intermediate band extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

12. The combination set forth in claim ll wherein said dorsal bands are made of an elastic material with the major elasticity of each dorsal band extending in a subu stantially horizontal direction.

13. A brassiere having a pair of shaped breast pockets each comprised of upper and lower portions dening the respective pocket with a generally central peak portion, dorsal bands extending from the sides of said breast pockets and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means for connecting the ends of said dorsal bands to one another, a band individual to each said pocket and forming the inner part of the lower portion thereof, each said band extending transversely and downwardly from its respective pocket across the front of the brassiere below the opposite pocket when on the wearer, said bands being in free overlapping relation at the front of the wearer, each said band being formed of a single piece of elastic material which is smooth and uniform and free of any intervening seams at the transition region between its portion which constitutes part of a breast pocket and its portion which constitutes an under-pocket band, each said band being a figure of tive edges including a rirst edge which constitutes a radial approximately vertical seam in the lower half of the pocket, a second edge which constitutes a radial approximately horizontal seam in the inner side of the pocket, a third edge which assists in defining a portion of the lower edge of the other cup, a fourth edge which is anchored below said other cup, and a fifth edge which is a bottom edge crossing at a shallow angle the corresponding bottom edge of the other band.

References Cited in the tile of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,898 Lax et al. Mar. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 684,344 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1952 

